Whats the best/easy maglite upgrade (incan)

[strideredc]

I was looking for a new "house" incan and after looking at the threads on here I am not sure?

The old 2/3d or 2/3c mags

Or the new incan mags?

What 1 or 2 lithium cells fit best (not 18650 by the sound of it)

Can you get aluminium reflectors for the new maglights?

I am really looking to buy a host, a couple of batteries and whatever bits needed but don't want to be grinding stuff down.

Let's keep it simple, and no stuff sold out 8 years ago!

what is the general consensus out in incan land for us oldies

 

[Olumin]

If you want to remain incan what I recently did is get this & run 2x21700s in 3C with 6V halogens such as Osram 64275 & 64250 OR Phillips 7388 & 5761. In any case you will need a Alu reflector & glas lens. I got mine from here. Keep in mind that when using 2xli-ions fully charged with a 30 or 35W bulb you will likely blow it so I recommend sticking to 20W and keep the cells at or slightly below 4.1V to be safe. In my experience they throw just as far as 30 or 35W bulbs.

Here is a beamshot of a 3c running Phillips 7388 on 2x21700s.

 

[mesa232323]

Best and easy do not usually go together. I will answer your question with easy. 2x 26500 in a 2c host with 5 or 6 cell Maglite bulb

 

[bykfixer]

A place called Kadomain sells alluminum reflector with a cam you can remove if you choose.

A (new Bi-pin) 2c incan with a pair of 18500 solar lamp batteries, wrapped in a sleeve that starts out as wire loom then wrapped with your favorite tape as a space filler, a 6 cell Maglite bulb and for good measure a 52.1mm glass lens from flashlight lens dot com.

The wire loom allows the batteries to be easily removed from the gap filler sleeve and everything mentioned allows the mod to be completely reversable. I cut 1 coil off the spring and bent to factory shape to make it easier to screw the tailcap on but it still works with C cells if I choose to. Mine still has the factory reflector with no issues. Afterall it was designed to withstand the heat of a 7 cell bulb.

Edit: corrected that the 2c uses 18500's not 18650's as pre-edit stated.
End edit

 

[xxo]

Easiest = 3C Mag + 2X protected button top 21700's + a 6 cell Mag xenon bulb + a DIY spacer (optional).

 

[Olumin]

I use 2x26500 in a ml25it 2C and its worth mentioning that it is a very tight fit. Requires a strong magnet to pull the cells back out. Best compromise in size-to-power but not ideal. Ive found 2x21700 in 3C a better solution + much better runtimes (3000mAh vs. 5000).

Running a 6cell MAG bulb on 2xli ion is the simplest solution & will work with stock lens/reflector in a standard 2/3C MAGlite but NOT ml25it, you will have to increase the size of the opening in the stock reflector using a bench drill to avoid it melting. No Alu reflectors are available for ml25it, but glas lenses are.

 

[bykfixer]

Flashlight lens also sells an acrylic lens with a slight amount of frosting that really cleans up filament shadows. It's called acrylite.

 

[xxo]

Another way to go for a 2C ML25IT, is to run it on a single protected 21700 and a 3 cell xenon bulb. You will need a proper 21700 to 2C adapter for this and you only get 60 ish lumens but this is plenty for most uses around the house. There is no need to drill the reflector for the 3 cell bulb.

 

[bykfixer]

Another way to go for a 2C ML25IT, is to run it on a single protected 21700 and a 3 cell xenon bulb. You will need a proper 21700 to 2C adapter for this and you only get 60 ish lumens but this is plenty for most uses around the house. There is no need to drill the reflector for the 3 cell bulb.

Afterall there was a 3 cell version.

 

[Olumin]

Afterall there was a 3 cell version.

Did they discontinue them? I still see them for sale.

 

[bykfixer]

The ML25IT was produced in late 2015 in 2 and 3 cell versions. But it sold about as well as bags of ice cubes at the north pole.

I bought a 3c one in silver summer of 2021 and it's serial #4804.

 

[turbodog]

Malkoff devices sells an led drop-in that heatsinks well to the body tube... runs off alkalines.

Or did you really mean incan AFTER modification?

 

[fivemega]

I was looking for a new "house" incan and after looking at the threads on here I am not sure?

The old 2/3d or 2/3c mags

Or the new incan mags?

What 1 or 2 lithium cells fit best (not 18650 by the sound of it)

Can you get aluminium reflectors for the new maglights?

I am really looking to buy a host, a couple of batteries and whatever bits needed but don't want to be grinding stuff down.

Let's keep it simple, and no stuff sold out 8 years ago!

what is the general consensus out in incan land for us oldies

You will get better result if you tell us what exactly you want.
M*g "C" or "D"
What kind of cells and how many cells.
What is limitation for body lengrth.
What kind of brightness.
What is your budget limitation.


Aluminum camless reflectors.

 

[Incandescent]

I recently picked up a couple used and beat up Mag Chargers for cheap. Since I mostly use my flashlights at close range, I decided to try putting some d-c-fix milky window film on one of the MC lenses. It became my favorite flashlight the instant I turned it on. At the tightest focuses, it's like having the intensity of a 4 cell Maglite, but with a large and smooth hotspot. Widening the focus is where the real fun begins, though, as it's possible to spread it out to a gigantic wall of light without the "donut hole" in the middle. I know people love putting high power bulbs into the Mag Charger, but to me just slapping some d-c-fix on the lens made it way more useful than any brighter bulb possibly could. I've created the ultimate indoor and close range outdoor flashlight with very little cost or effort.

Aside from Mag Chargers, I would say the best "easy" custom setups are a 2D with series adapters to fit in 6 AA plus a 6 cell Xenon bi-pin bulb, or a 2D/2C with two Li-ions and the 6 cell Xenon bi-pin bulb. An aluminum MOP reflector and/or Acrylite diffusion lens do wonders to improve beam quality while maintaining throw, or you can go the d-c-fix route for a flood light. The 6 cell xenon is almost as bright as the stock Mag Charger bulb.

I also have a 4C with Xenon bi-pin bulb which I love using with nothing modified except an Acrylite lens to clean up the beam. The 4C form factor is great, and the 4 cell Xenon is pretty bright and white. I use AA Eneloops in mine which keep it really lightweight and maintain decent brightness longer than alkaline C cells.

 

[Megalamuffin]

What would be a good long running bulb to use for a 2D running 2x 26650's?

 

[strideredc]

You will get better result if you tell us what exactly you want.
M*g "C" or "D"
What kind of cells and how many cells.
What is limitation for body lengrth.
What kind of brightness.
What is your budget limitation.


Aluminum camless reflectors.

Hi Fivemega, thats kind of the point, i dont really know It was just to see what builds there are and for how much effort/cost = reward!

Money isn't a massive issue, but simple is better

One thing i would like is a reasonable runtime, not interested in a 1min paper burner.... been there and had that (i think it was one of your multi aa to d cell holders in a maglite back in the day!)

 

[strideredc]

Malkoff devices sells an led drop-in that heatsinks well to the body tube... runs off alkalines.

Or did you really mean incan AFTER modification?

Yes definitely incan

 

[fivemega]

Money isn't a massive issue, but simple is better

I think this is the simplest incand (not M*g) with good run time and brightness.
If it has to be a M*g then 3C with pair of 21700 and potted 1499 bulb will work.
For more compact size, possible to use 17mm Extension tube on 2C, pair of 18650 and same potted 1499 bulb.